Why Angels fans can blame Arte Moreno for Shohei Ohtani signing with Dodgers

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Why Angels fans can blame Arte Moreno for Shohei Ohtani signing with Dodgers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Angels, back in 2023, were faced with a tricky decision: they either were meant to build around Shohei Ohtani and go all in, or trade him away to recoup some value in case he left in free agency.

They decided to keep Ohtani and not trade him. That didn't work at all, as the Angels missed the playoffs, and then Ohtani walked in free agency, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the fault for this Ohtani situation for the Angels falls squarely on the shoulders of owner Arte Moreno. He actually had the chance to bring Ohtani back, but let him go to the Dodgers instead.

Arte Moreno is to blame for Shohei Ohtani leaving Angels in free agency​

"The Angels were given the opportunity to match the $700 million offer with $680 million deferred, and Ohtani would have returned if the Angels agreed," Nightengale writes. "Yet, owner Arte Moreno passes, with Ohtani's price tag exceeding expectations."

Ohtani signed with the Dodgers on a massive $700 million deal, which is now second only to Juan Soto's $765 million deal for the biggest contracts in MLB history.

It would've been a ton of money to hand out, but for a superstar player like Ohtani, it would've been worth it. He's already proven his worth for the Dodgers, helping them to back-to-back World Series titles to go with significant interest and revenue.

The Angels had the chance to bring Ohtani back and get all of the success he's had since leaving for the 2024 season. But Moreno passed, balking at the high price tag.

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While it might be easy to pin the blame on Ohtani, the player who left the team in free agency and accepted the Dodgers' offer, this report from Nightengale sheds some light on the situation.

If Moreno wanted to, he could've brought Ohtani back on the same deal he signed with the Dodgers, according to this report.

Angels fans can essentially solely blame Moreno for Ohtani signing with the Dodgers a few winters ago, as Ohtani seemingly would've come back on the $700 million contract the Dodgers offered if the Angels matched it.

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